Variety of Tibouchina named &#39;Cool Baby&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Cool Baby’ is a new variety of  Tibouchina  plant that is suitable for planting in gardens, containers, and in landscaping having tolerance to low temperatures and white flowers with purple margins.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Tibouchina×hybrida

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘COOL BABY’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofTibouchina plant, botanically known as Tibouchina×hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Cool Baby’.

The new and ornamental variety was selected by the breeder as a resultof an ongoing breeding program that has been conducted by the inventorfor more than thirty years at the inventor's nursery in Victoria Point,Queensland, Australia. The purpose of the breeding program is to producenovel varieties of Tibouchina in varying plant sizes, flower colors, andwhich are well-suited to a range of climate zones. ‘Cool Baby’ is ahybrid plant derived from the deliberate controlled cross-pollination ofthe female parent, an individual plant of Tibouchina organensis, named‘Totally Moonstruck’, and the male parent, an individual plant ofTibouchina mutabilis named ‘Jazzie’. The inventor emasculated flowers ofthe female parent and applied pollen that was freshly collected from themale parent in 2003. The parent plants were isolated to prevent openpollination. In 2007, the inventor selected ‘Cool Baby’ as a seedlingthat had been raised from the cross-pollination described herein.Selection was based on the criteria of habit, flower color, plantdimensions, and cold temperature tolerance. The plant was thenpropagated in 2008 via vegetative cuttings to produce a new generationfor final evaluation.

Further, asexual reproductions of ‘Cool Baby’ at the same location hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are retained and reproduced true to type throughmore than six successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The color references made herein are to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticulture Society of London, except where general color termsof ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variation inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined tobasic characteristics of ‘Cool Baby’ which, in combination, distinguishthis Tibouchina plant as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Very compact size and with rounded plant growth (dwarf form);

2. Abundant, mid-sized white flowers with a purple margin;

3. Slow to moderate vigor;

4. Very dense habit;

5. Low temperature tolerance; and

6. Woody, long-lived shrub.

The new variety differs from ‘Totally Moonstruck’ and ‘Jazzie’ in itssmaller, mature plant size. Further, ‘Jazzie’ exhibits purple flowers.

Further, the new variety exhibits a differing margin color, while ‘PeaceBaby’ does not (U.S. plant patent applied for concurrently). ‘PeaceBaby’ also has larger mature plant dimensions, a faster growth rate, andlighter green leaves than ‘Cool Baby’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 is close-up photograph of a flower of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 is a photograph of an entire plant of the new variety

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 18-25 days at approximately 21° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 30-40 days at 21° C.

PLANT

-   Plant spread: Approximately 24 cm.-   Plant height: 21 cm.-   Growth rate: Slow to moderate.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 8 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.18 cm.        -   Quantity.—About 40.-   Age of plant when described: Approximately 48 weeks from a rooted    cutting.-   Growth habit: Dense; compact; rounded.-   Height at maturity: 60 cm.-   Width at maturity: 80 cm.-   Stem:-   Branching habit: Strong, basal branching.-   Main stem diameter: 7 cm.-   Lateral stem length (average): 8 cm.-   Lateral stem width (average): 0.18 cm.-   Internode length (range): 0.8 cm to 2.5 cm.-   Shape: Square in cross section.-   Surface: Rough.-   Branch color:    -   -   Juvenile.—146D.        -   Semi-ripe.—146B.        -   Mature.—199B.-   Foliage:-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Surface (adaxial).—Finely pubescent.        -   Surface (abaxial).—Finely pubescent.        -   Texture (adaxial surface).—Prominently ribbed.        -   Texture (abaxial surface).—Prominently ribbed.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Length (range excluding petiole).—0.9 cm to 5.8 cm.        -   Width (range).—0.55 cm to 2.4 cm.        -   Color (adaxial surface).—Between N189A and 147A.        -   Color (abaxial surface).—146B.        -   Color of juvenile foliage not fully expanded.—185A and 147A.-   Foliar fragrance: None observed to date.-   Venation:    -   -   Pattern.—Reticulate; 3 primary parallel veins.        -   Color (adaxial surface).—146B.        -   Color (abaxial surface).—146C.        -   Prominence (adaxial surface).—Depressed.        -   Vein prominence (abaxial surface).—Raised.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length (range).—0.4 cm to 1.1 cm.        -   Diameter (average).—0.16 cm.        -   Color.—146C.        -   Surface.—Pubescent.        -   Shape.—Cylindrical, but flattened on the adaxial surface.-   Flower:    -   -   Shape.—Rotate.        -   Diameter.—9.3 cm.        -   Aspect.—Facing upward and outward.        -   Inflorescence type.—Solitary.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Blooming period.—Summer through fall; can bloom sporadically            during other times.        -   Inflorescence fragrance.—None observed to date.-   Petals:    -   -   Number.—Usually 5 in number (occasionally 6).        -   Central color (both surfaces).—157B.        -   Margin color (both surfaces).—77A.        -   Central color as senesces.—76B and 76C.        -   Length.—4.3 cm.        -   Width.—3.4 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Obtuse to flattened.        -   Base.—Broadly attenuate.        -   Shape.—Irregularly obovate.        -   Surface (abaxial and adaxial).—Glabrous.        -   Fused or unfused.—Unfused.-   Buds:    -   -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Color.—144C.        -   Surface.—Pubescent.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Length (at first sign of petal emergence).—2 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.05 cm.-   Calyx:    -   -   Shape.—Cupule.        -   Color.—144C.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—5 in number.        -   Width.—0.56 cm.        -   Length.—1.1 cm.        -   Surface (adaxial).—Smooth.        -   Surface (abaxial).—Pubescent.        -   Color (adaxial surface).—144C.        -   Color (abaxial surface).—144B.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Fused or unfused.—Unfused.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Dimensions.—0.5 cm in length and 3 mm in diameter.        -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Color.—146D.        -   Surface.—Pubescent.-   Reproductive organs:-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—Usually 10 in number (5 long and 5 short).        -   Color.—84B.        -   Length.—5 longest approximately 3.4 cm; 5 shortest            approximately 2.3 cm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Color.—Ranges between 79A and N81B.        -   Shape.—Sickle.        -   Length.—5 longest approximately 1.4 cm; 5 shortest            approximately 1.0 cm.-   Pollen: None observed.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Shape.—Columnar.        -   Color.—145A and 75C.        -   Length.—2.6 cm.-   Stigma:    -   -   Shape.—Flattened.        -   Color.—145A.-   Ovary:    -   -   Color.—N44A.        -   Length.—1 cm.        -   Width.—0.56 cm.        -   Shape.—Cupule.        -   Surface.—Pubescent and ribbed.        -   Position.—Inferior.-   Seeds: No seeds have been observed to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Tibouchina plant named ‘CoolBaby’ as herein described and illustrated.